PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: More than 3 months Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 750/mm3 Platelet count at least 70,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL (at least 1 month since prior transfusion) Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL (no greater than 3.8 mg/dL if elevation due to a protease inhibitor or Gilbert's syndrome) AST and ALT no greater than 125 U/L PT or APTT no greater than 120% of control No history of hepatic cirrhosis Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at least 70 mL/min Pulmonary: See Disease Characteristics Other: Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective hormonal and barrier contraception for at least 1 week before, during, and for at least 1 month after study No greater than grade 1 peripheral neuropathy of any etiology except a localized neuropathy due to a mechanical cause or trauma No other malignancy within the past year except completely resected basal cell skin cancer No grade 3 toxicity except lymphopenia or neutropenia No hypersensitivity to thalidomide or related compounds No evidence of underlying severe or life-threatening bacterial, viral, fungal, or protozoal infection within the past 2 weeks Fever of 39 degrees Celsius or greater within the past 10 days allowed only if not due to a severe underlying infection